Multi-point staging strategy for low emission and stable combustion

Abstract

The present invention relates to an improved multi-point injector for use in a gas turbine engine or other types of combustors. The multi-point fuel injector has a plurality of nozzles arranged in at least two arrays such as concentric rings. The injector further has different fuel circuits for independently controlling the fuel flow rate for the nozzles in each of the arrays. Each of the nozzles include a fluid channel and one or more swirler vanes in the fluid channel for creating a swirling flow within the fluid channel. A method for injecting a fuel / air mixture into a combustor stage of a gas turbine engine is also described. At least one zone has a flame hot enough to stabilize the entire combustor flame.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCED TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) [0001] This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 260,311, filed Sep. 27, 2002, entitled MULTI-POINT STAGING STRATEGY FOR LOW EMISSIONG AND STABLE COMBUSTION, by Alexander G. Chen et al.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to a multi-point fuel injector for use in a combustor of a gas turbine engine or other types of combustors. [0003] One of the biggest challenges for gas turbines, especially for industrial applications, is to have good emission performance and combustion stability for a wide range of power settings and ambient condition. If one has an industrial gas turbine with low emissions of NOx, CO and UHC at 100% power, as one reduces the power, which is usually done by reducing the amount of fuel to the engine, the fuel / air mixture in the combustor typically gets leaner. The leaner mixture of fuel / air lowers the flame temperature and creates a flame which can be...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-point fuel injector which addresses emission and stability problems.

[0005] It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved method for injecting a fuel / air mixture into a combustor of a turbine engine or other applications which avoids creating excessive CO and UHC at wide power levels and ambient conditions.

Problems solved by technology

One of the biggest challenges for gas turbines, especially for industrial applications, is to have good emission performance and combustion stability for a wide range of power settings and ambient condition.

The quenching effect creates excessive CO and UHC and high dynamic pressure.

The other issue associated with too lean fuel / air mixture is that it creates unstable combustion.

If one has a gas turbine with low NOx, CO, UHC and acoustics at high ambient temperature, as ambient temperature becomes lower, the flame temperature decreases which may create high CO, UHC and unstable flame.

Or if one has a gas turbine with low NOx, CO, UHC and acoustics at low ambient temperature, as ambient temperature becomes higher, the flame temperature increases which may create excessive NOx.

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